Who We Are

OUR MISSION & VISION

ECHO Housing & Community Development improves lives by reducing barriers to housing, social wellbeing, and economic opportunity.

We envision a community where housing, social wellbeing, and economic opportunity are accessible to all – fostering a thriving, compassionate society in which every person can reach their full potential.

At ECHO, we believe every person has inherent worth and dignity. Honoring both is essential to the wellbeing of individuals and families. We also believe that having a safe, stable place to call home is the foundation from which people can heal, grow, and thrive.

Guided by this belief, we operate with five core values that shape how we serve, partner, and lead in everything we do.

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OUR CORE VALUES

COMPASSION

Practice empathy and understanding with each client; treat each client as you yourself would like to be treated; pay attention to the needs of the individual; make a concerted effort to understand the experience of each client; realize that the over-arching goal of our work is to alleviate suffering and to promote and increase a client’s capacity to enjoy life; display a commitment to the ideal of the worth and dignity of all human beings.

INTEGRITY

Practice honesty and transparency in all matters; value equal treatment of all employees and clients; display a commitment to evidence-based practice; adhere to established best-practices in fiscal matters and in supportive service provision; demonstrate a dedication to continual career development and increased practice competency; set a positive example for clients and fellow-employees; admit mistakes and give credit to appropriate person; practice financial responsibility; advocate for fair and equal treatment of all clients.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Take responsibility for results; meet or exceed expectations of your position; solve problems effectively; utilize supervision and collaboration to achieve desired outcomes; focus on continual improvement; remain open to new ideas; demonstrate follow-through with projects and tasks; take initiative; exhibit a commitment to a high level of performance; practice effective organization and time management skills; conduct regular self-evaluation.

INNOVATION

Value creativity in solving problems and creating opportunities for staff and clients; utilize academic literature to develop new approaches and evaluate existing approaches; constantly strive for improvement in service-delivery and efficiency; share new ideas and encourage an environment where others feel free to share their ideas; value suggestion and feedback; conduct research to find out what works for other agencies; think outside of the box; take risks; acknowledge that a better way to do things is always waiting to be discovered; practice adaptability and flexibility in all matters.

ADVOCACY

Act as the voice of those we serve; advocate for client access to services and resources; be a catalyst for positive social change; be a spokesperson for our agency in all public and community dealings; advocate for the rights of the those we serve; assist other agencies improve their client-care and service-delivery when possible; share stories of success; empower co-workers and clients to achieve self-actualization; advocate for change on the individual, community and national level; pursue social justice.

OUR HOUSING FIRST MODEL

Guided by the “Housing First” practice model, permanent supportive housing is a best-practice intervention designed to meet the needs of the chronically or episodically homeless.

Program participants are provided with permanent housing in conjunction with wrap-around, individualized supportive services delivered by a team of Case Managers who are specifically trained in the needs of those experiencing homelessness.

Housing First has been credited nationally with significantly reducing the chronically homeless population and has been endorsed by numerous federal agencies including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the United States Inter-Agency Council on Homelessness and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

EHC operates six permanent-supportive housing programs which all serve a unique and important role in our community.